Electrically heated curling iron



May 31, 1938.

w. c. KUS

ELECTRICALLY HEATED CURLING IRON Filed July 16, 1935 INVENTORQ 5 22/ 2226: K2,

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relatesto improvements in electr-ically heated curlingirons.

An object of my invention is to provide, in an electrically heatedcurling iron, rotatable electrical connections between the electricalsupply cord and the heating element in the curling iron, which willpresent a-minimum of frictional resistance. Rotatable connections,so-called,,have been used in the art, but the frictional resistance oftheir construction has been sufficiently greater than the slighttorsional resistance of the supply cord, to defeat their purpose, andtherefore render them impractical. My invention has overcome thisdifficulty.

A further object of my invention is to provide, within the handle of thecurling iron, rotatable electrical connections, comprising co-operatingparts of simple construction, capable of economical manufacture andquick assembly, adjustment and repairs.

These, and other objects and advantages of my invention, will be morecompletely described and disclosed in the following specification, theaccompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

Broadly, my invention comprises, a curling iron, incorporating anelectrical heating element, a handle fixedly secured to the iron, anelectrical cord removably secured to a source of electrical energy androtatably secured within the handle, rotatable electrical connectionsbetween the heating element and the cord, which present a minimum oftorsional resistance.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the curlingiron, and

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like numerals refer tolike parts throughout:-

A curling iron I, includes a rod member 2, in which is secured a heatingelement 3, a clamping member 4, and a handle 5.

The handle 5 is formed with an axial bore 36 which extends partiallythrough the handle 5 and connects with an axial bore 31 of relativelysmaller diameter, which extends the remainder of the distance, throughthe handle 5. The rod 2, containing the heating element 3, is fixedlysecured in the bore 31. A cylindrical member 36 of insulation, formedwith an axial bore 39, in which is secured a metallic plug 40, having arounded nose portion 4|, is fixedly secured in the end of the bore 36,adjacent the member .2, by means of a key member 42, engaged in a slot43. The member 38 is formed with a reduced, threaded, portion 38, whichprovides a shoulder 44. The member 33 is also provided with holes and.extending from the space 41; the hole 45 connecting with the bore 39,and the hole 46 connecting with a space 41, provided by cutting away aportion of the threaded part 38, as indicated in Fig. 2. A wire 48, fromthe heating element 3,,passes through the hole 45iand is secured to themetallic plug 40. The second wire 49, fromthe heating element 3,.passesthrough the hole 46 and is secured to a ring 50, which isslipped overthe threaded portion 38 and abuts the shoulder 44. A metallic sleeve 5|is engaged on the threaded portion 38, and impinges against the ring 50;the opposite end of the sleeve 5| being cupped at 52, to provide a partof a ball race for the balls 53. This end of the sleeve 5| is enclosedwithin a bushing member 54, which also provides a portion of the racefor the balls 53. By sliding the bushing 54 onto the sleeve 5|, theballs 53 may be dropped into position through an opening 55 provided inthe bushing 54. All of the parts above described are fixedly securedwithin the handle 5. The cable 28, is secured within a member 56 whichis rotatably supported within the handle 5. The cable 28 is held withinthe member 56 by means of a knot 51 in cooperation with the usual springwire sleeve 58. The member 56 is made preferably of insulating material,and has secured thereon a metallic bushing, or sleeve member 59, whichis rotatably supported on the balls 53 by means of the ball race 60formed therein. A sleeve 6| of insulating material is secured on themember 59 and supports a metallic cup-shaped member 62, in which isslidably supported a metallic plug 63, which is held in engagement withthe plug 40 by a spring 64. One wire 33, of the cable 28, is secured tothe member 62 at 65, and the other wire 34 of the cable 28 is secured tothe member 59 at 66. The assembly of the parts 56, 59, 6|, 62, and 63;and cord 26, is freely rotatable within the handle 5 on the balls 53,and the crowned surface 4| of the plug 40 provides a single pointcontact between the plug 40 and the plug 63. Thus, a minimum offrictional resistance to torsional stress is presented by the balls 53and the point contact between the plugs 40 and 63.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, in an electric connector construction, a casingtherefor for an electric tool, a block of insulation secured in thecasing, and having two passageways for receiving circuit wires, the saidblock having a threaded end, a metallic ring on the block and to whichone terminal of the electric tool is connected, a metallic plug with acurved end in the threaded block to which the other terminal of theelectric tool is connected, a metallic tubular member threaded on theblock and engaging the metallic ring, a second metallic tubular member,antifriction means between the two metallic tubular members, acup-shaped metallic member electrically insulated from the secondtubular member, a spring-actuated plug in the said cupshaped member forforcing the same against the curved end of the metallic plug, a recessedmember of insulating material threaded onto the second tubular member inwhich the lead wires are located, one terminal of which wires isconnected to the second tubular member and the other terminal to thespring-actuated plug for completing the circuit to the electric tool,the construction being such that the lead wires will be free from anytwisting effect when the tool is in use, as described.

2. In an electric tool device, a recessed handle of insulating material,a metallic plug with a round end fixedly secured in said handle, ametallic tube fixedly secured in said handle and insulated from saidplug, an electric tool having terminals connected to said plug and saidtube, an elongated metallic rotatable member in said handle and carryinglead wires, a single ball bearing support for said rotatable memberlocated substantially midway of its length for balance, a slidablysupported and spring-actuated contact terminal secured in and insulatedfrom said rotatable member and engaged on said plug, whereby contact ismaintained between said round ended plug and said terminal under allconditions including misalignment of said rotatable member with the axisof said handle, one of said lead wires being connected to said contactterminal and the other of said lead wires being connected to saidmetallic rotatable member.

3. An electric connector for an electric tool comprising, a handletherefor having a recess therein, a threaded block of insulation securedin the inner end of the recess, a terminal with a round nose end in theblock, a metallic terminal ring on the fixed block, an elongatedmetallic tubular member threaded onto the fixed block in electricalcontact with said metallic ring and having a ball race at its oppositeend, a second metallic tubular member having a ball race and locatedwithin the first tubular member, balls in said races, a tubular memberof insulation secured to the second tubular member, a cupshaped metallicmember in the tubular insulation member, a slidable contact in thecup-shaped member, engaging the terminal with a round nose, a spring inthe cup-shaped member for forcing the slidable member against the roundnose terminal, a recessed member secured to the second metallic tubularmember in which the entrance wires are located, the two terminals ofwhich wires are connected to the slidable member and the second metallictubular member.

WALTER C. KUS.

